Jessica Mendoza’s Adventure
Watery Wonders
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Watery Wonders
Jessica Mendoza
“There’s a huge wonderland out there for them and their eyes are wide open now.”
Grab a life jacket and a wetsuit! Jessica Mendoza and her family gear up for an outdoor adventure and explore the wet and wondrous sights of Central Oregon’s majestic wilderness.
Chasing Oregon’s Watery Wonders
Softball player and Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist Jessica Mendoza began globetrotting at an early age. Every summer of her childhood, Jessica would leave her Southern California home and head to Mexico to visit her father’s family where she encountered “different food, a different language, just a different culture,” she says. “I absolutely loved my childhood and getting to experience that.”
Trips with her softball teams — from Brazil to Greece to China — deepened her appreciation for new cultures and places. But these days, Jessica’s travel is centered on her family — her husband Adam and their two sons, Caleb and Caden — and exploring the gorgeous landscapes close to their home in Bend, Oregon.
The family climbs into the Land Rover Discovery to set off for one of their frequent local adventure outings. For this trip, they head to the pristine Clear Lake in nearby Willamette National Forest.
The lake sits at an elevation of around 3,000 feet which means its water stays icy cold year-round. That doesn’t deter Jessica and Caleb from paddle boarding across the lake’s shimmering surface, though. “There's something untouched about it,” she says of the lake’s crystal clear water. “A place like this brings out a sense of curiosity and wonder.”
Afterward, the boys delight in skipping rocks and taking the family dog, Vader, out for a quick stroll along a gently rolling trail. Gazing around at the tall pines that ring the lake, Jessica says, “You couldn’t imagine a better place to take a road trip.”
This easy access to nature is one of the reasons Jessica and Adam moved the family to Oregon from California. Adam took on the role of stay-at-home dad so Jessica could pursue her career as an analyst at ESPN and they’re making the most of getting the boys outdoors.
Adam says the boys have fully embraced their new home. “They see what we see in appreciating the environment, less asphalt and concrete, and more fresh air,” he says. “There’s a huge wonderland out there for them and their eyes are wide open now.”
The family’s next stop on their day of natural wonder is the stunning Sahalie Falls. From the viewing platform, the four watch the McKenzie River tumble over the falls, churning up a neverending mist that dampens the surrounding bright green growth. “A lot of times we think we have to hike for miles and miles to find beauty,” Jessica says as she smiles at her sons gaping at Mother Nature’s power and majesty. “But, really, it can be right out your car door. You park and there is this massive waterfall with so much beauty.”
Jessica and her family confidently navigate their journey using the Pivi Pro infotainment system, the custom portal of the Land Rover Discovery to access all the information you need on the go. The always connected GPS and updated mapping feature helps the family traverse even the most obscure roads. In addition to navigation, Pivi Pro offers built-in Wi-Fi, voice recognition, streaming music and entertainment channels, making it the perfect assistant to get your adventure on.
Land Rover Discovery
The World at Your Fingertips
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Tim Howard
Jessica Mendoza
A lot of times we think we have to hike for miles and miles to find beauty, but, really, it can be right out your car door.”
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Walking back to the Land Rover Discovery, with the sun slowly descending and casting a golden glow, Jessica reflects, “I live for moments like this, with my family surrounded by nature, exploring and discovering new things and there’s never been a better time to do that.”
Perched along Shitike Creek, the Museum at Warm Springs was built with local materials and adorned with traditional symbols from the Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute Tribes — known collectively as the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. The visually-striking museum preserves the rich culture, complex history and sacred artifacts of the region’s Native American tribes, educating the public while also passing on their stories and traditions to the next generation of tribal youth.
Museum at Warm Springs
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In a state full of splendid waterfalls, Cline Falls is a hidden gem. Tucked away just off the highway, a relatively easy half-mile trail leads to Cline Falls, a segmented waterfall that roars over rock ledges as the Deschutes River powers its way south. While Cline Falls might not be the biggest waterfall in the state of Oregon, it’s certainly one of the most breathtaking.
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Cline Falls
A small urban lake resting in the middle of Deschutes River, Mirror Pond holds a special place in Bend’s history. Appearing on postcards since the early 1900s, the lake became an iconic symbol of the region’s idyllic beauty. The lake was home to the annual Bend River Pageant and Stampede from 1933 until 1965, when a parade of elaborate river floats and colorful lights would adorn the water for shoreside spectators. These days, you’re far more likely to see kayakers and paddle boarders peacefully floating on the waters of this undeniably picturesque pond.
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Mirror Pond
Named for remarkably pristine waters fed by underground springs and melted snow from nearby Mount Washington, Clear Lake is one of Oregon’s true natural wonders. The lake’s water is so transparent that you can see clearly into its depths, where the remains of an ancient petrified forest are permanently submerged. A five-mile trail circles the lake and leads through old growth forests and volcanic rock, the result of lava flows from Sand Mountain that created the lake thousands of years ago.
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Clear Lake
Another of Oregon’s waterfall jewels, Sahalie Falls was formed from the same lava flows that helped create Clear Lake, a few miles up the McKenzie River. The verdant slopes surrounding the base of the falls are vivid green, constantly fed by the churning mist. One observation platform gives visitors a stunning straight-on view while another platform perches you right next to the vigorous river tumbling over the edge. The McKenzie River Trail runs in either direction from Sahalie Falls, leading you to Koosah Falls to the south and Clear Lake to the north.
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Sahalie Falls
In the Wilderness of Central Oregon
Jessica Mendoza and her family load up their Land Rover Discovery and head into the lush wilderness of Oregon.
Driven by a desire to be immersed in nature and experience some of the state’s most breathtaking sights firsthand, the family leaves Bend, Oregon in search of thundering waterfalls and crystalline lakes.
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BEND, OR
Excuse me while I kiss the sky! Land Rover Discovery’s Panoramic Sunroof allows you to take in the world around you. Extending from the driver’s seat to the second row passenger seats, the Panoramic Sunroof offers fresh air flow and uninterrupted views. Too much rain or shine? No problem, the automatic sunshade can be deployed to provide coverage so you can keep on enjoying the sky above your head.
Land Rover Discovery
See Everything, Feel Everything
Relax and drive, let us handle the road! Land Rover Discovery’s patented Terrain Response 2 (TR2) system automatically selects the optimum driving mode. TR2 takes the strain out of difficult slopes, adjusts the vehicle and maintains a steady speed in challenging off-road conditions.
Land Rover Discovery
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Crystal clear vibes
A picturesque pond
Preserving cultural heritage
A rushing river
The hidden gem
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Jessica Mendoza’s Adventure
Watery Wonders
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In the Wilderness of Central Oregon
Jessica Mendoza and her family load up their Land Rover and head into the lush wilderness of Oregon.
Driven by a desire to be immersed in nature and experience some of the state’s most breathtaking sights firsthand, the family leaves Bend, Oregon in search of thundering waterfalls and crystalline lakes.
Click on a DESTINATION
Watery Wonders
BEND, OR
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